Walkers Hoops & Crosses- Wholegrain Snacking for Cheeky Monkeys

I've been dying to try these, so was pretty pleased when Walkers offered to send us some. I think I got to eat about three of them, as a small someone else snaffled them for his after school snack. Each pack is only 85 calories, and they are made with wholegrain, with no preservatives or artificial additives. We tried the beef flavour which are like a healthy Monster Munch alternative. They also are available in prawn cocktail or salt and vinegar. All three varieties are vegetarian too.

The Coolest Dishwasher You'll Ever See- My Top Picks from AppliancesOnline.co.uk

Appliances Online have relaunched their excellent site with some of the best household brands available. I checked out the fresh new site and picked my favourite items from their retro styled collection. ​

​They are currently running a competition to win £1000 of Bosch items, so it's well worth clicking through to AO even if you aren't currently planning on any big purchases.

​The classic mint green Smeg fridge, a beauty.

​Smeg Zingy Lemon Dishwasher, wow.

​Whirlpool microwave. Suddenly my white basic one seems redundant. I need this.

Another cool feature of the relaunch is their very own lifestyle blog, curated by ​Kimberly Hughes. She's a retro lover like me. 

http://blog.appliancesonline.co.uk/

Sneaky Homemade Starbucks Iced Mocha, Made with the GAT Winner Espresso Pot

I simply can't afford to buy coffee from the big chain cares any more, but that doesn't mean I have to go without iced mochas this summer. ​

With the GAT Winner Espresso Pots you can make espresso on your stove top as a base for your iced coffee recipe. Once you have your super strong, concentrated espresso, you can add cocoa powder, or as I do a big pump of Sweetbird Mocha Syrup. You can store this mix in the fridge in a mug, then when you want to make your iced coffee just pour out a little bit of your mix, add milk and ice and you have what tastes exactly like the in store blend you pay £3 for.​

Another cool idea is use a little bit of your mocha mix in contracted form, add it to a tin of condensed milk, pour into lolly moulds and freeze. Coffee lolly pops!

The GAT Winner Espresso Pots are available from Top Gourmet.​

Counterfeit Artwork, Giant Money from Aisling Smyth

I've featured Aisling's work before, and she just emailed me to tell me about her latest finished piece. Oh my god- stunning stitching. A giant bank note, check out Aisling's blog here.​

What I Bought Today: Brand New He-Man Activity Pad

Cherry Heads, Stock Up on the Sweet Stuff at Yankee Pop

I love cherry flavoured drinks and sweets, and the Americans seem to do too. A whole lot more of their candy includes cherry, rather than the British go-to 'red flavour' strawberry.​

Yankee Pop import and sell US sweets, chocolates and groceries to the UK market and they have a whole orchard filled with cherry popping products. The Kool Aid is a treat!​

Ikea, Spring 2013. My God, it's Full of Flamingoes....

I'm lucky to live a fifteen minute drive from Northern Ireland's Ikea store, which means every six weeks I go in and have a nosy to see what's new.
Their summer range is just launching & it's a kitsch-lover's dream. Flamingoes, pineapples, bright oranges and blues, I could have spent a fortune.

What I did end up buying was reindeer meat, some summer straws for my morning iced coffees, and a packet of knives. When you live with a man, knives go missing- for fixing things. Pretty handy that you can pick up JUST knives at Ikea, rather than having to buy another 16 piece set. So many spoons in this house, it's like.... the opposite of The Matrix.